26-08 reggae agenda meets dubcreator (arno goldstein)

Dubcreator aka Arno Goldstein is a reggae dub producer from the Amsterdam area in The Netherlands who started making music somewhere back in 1989 with a tiny Casio keyboard. From that point on i never stopped making music. At 1st in bands as keyboardplayer. Then i started collecting more and more gear as i felt i wanted to make my own tunes as well besides playing in bands. So more synths, mixingdesk, FX and a 4track recorder came in. That’s where the DC Studio took off.

Reggae Agenda meets DubCreator (Arno Goldstein)

You produce a lot of King Shiloh tunes. Any other sounds you are active for ? Yes i do produce for other sounds or labels on request but i have a special connection to King Shiloh. I’m part of the Shiloh family and they always will have priorty.

When was the first time you linked up with the King Shiloh Family?​I think that was back in 1999 orso. I gave a DAT with riddims to Bredda Neil at a Reggae festival and said check it please. Couple of months later Neil gave me a ring if he could pass by my studio with 2 singers to record something. He came with Idren Natural and Ras Milo. The fruits from that recording session were “ Red Light” and “Meditate” with Idren Natural. These tunes went on high rotation on Shiloh sound and later also on Aba Shanti, Iration Steppas and Shaka. Red Light was released on a 10” on Unity Sound shortly after. And we done “ Countryside Living” with Ras Milo of which the dub was released on a Roots of Dub Funk compilation. From that recording session Shiloh and i built a good and steady relation of which the fruits still being released on King Shiloh Majestic Music. 1st one was “Ten Plagues” with Lyrical Benjie and many more after.

How proud are you when your tunes being played in the session ? Well, in the beginning that gave a very proud feeling. It’s magical when a tune is being played that loud and with that much basspressure. To see the massive go wild on something you created. These days i don’t attend sessions as much as i used to. But when i go and hear one of my tunes it’s still magical but these days i listen with a different ear. More checking out the soundquality and crowd response. More with a technical ear… how to improve.(interview continues after Marching FWD - Dubcreator Youtube link)

Where do you begin producing a tune. What is the process ? That differs from tune to tune. Sometimes i just go sit down in the studio and start playing a bassline, sometimes i start with a chord progression. Sometimes i hear a melody in my head and go to the studio to sort it. The process for me to get a tune finished is that i always start out with a basic guide track consisting of drums, bass, chord structure and usually some melody. Then i put that aside and wait for a singer to voice it. In that way i can offer a singer a couple of guidetracks so he or she can choose the ones they feel. After that i start arranging and record more instrumentation to fit the vocal. Like horns, guitars, percussion and such. When all is recorded im bbringing all stems to the mixingdesk to mix and finetune all the processing and EQ.

Which artist/producer do you consider your biggest inspiration and why ? I get inspired by loads of different people. Ofcourse the usual suspects like King Tubby, Lee Perry, Yabby You, Dennis Bovell. But when it comes to studio skills i have big respect for Russ D. That always sound so nice and open. And im a big fan of Mad Professor and Adrian Sherwood becouse of their mixing skills.

Name 5 of the most inspiring artists you have worked with so far ? When it comes to singers i love to work with Earl Sixteen and Danny Red. Both very professional and also heartical people. Donovan Kingjay was a joy too, Christine Miller… a lovely and sweet woman and a great voice. Ranking Joe, Peter Broggs (RIP)…. ! Most of the singers who passed by my studio were great to work work with. Also all musicians who come regulary are nice, Max Covale for the Trumpet and Bones, Tommy Tornado on Sax, Phillip I-Ness for the guitars. Its we like we inspire eah other. We always make it nice in the studio and no time limits. People need to feel at home.

You are a reggae/dub producer. You just loving the music or are you also in to Rastafari ? Im not a rastaman myself but i feel a lot of what the Rasta movement is all about. I feel the vibe, the spiritual side. And respect it. You don’t have to be a rastaman to produce reggae music as long as you understand it and have some knowledge about Rastafari. All the lyrics being sung on my tunes have to be conscious. Im an atheist but have more knowledge about whatever religion than a lot of believers. I’v red the bible, i’ve red the dead see scrolls, red about Islam and about Buddah.

The perfect ingredients for a hot Dub ! (Dubcreator)

Have you ever been to Jamdown ? If so how was your experience ? I haven’t been there, so can’t say anything about it. But from what i hear from people it’s fantastic.

Any other interesting ‘Reggae locations’ in the world you want to tell the people about ? Last year i played at DubCamp near Nantes in France and thought it had a great vibe. Loads of different tents with artists. Was very nice to link with people and see some people i didnt see for ages. And i’ve played at No Logo festival near Besancon in France. That was real nice too, very heartical people who booked me over there. A great crowd too… even in the pooring rain. And ofcourse the yearly bevrijdingsdub in Amsterdam with King Shiloh who get;s some nice artists over like Errol Earthquake last may.

Do you take every request to produce or do you have certain standards ? No i don’t take every request. Sometimes it’s just not my cup o tea. I need to feel it, otherwise you never get a good result. It’s important to be happy with what i’m doing.

Are you producing other genres of music ? Yes, i did some technoish things, Jazz and even some classical tunes. But i also mix for others. I did mix a band called Umeme Afrorave. This was a crossover between techno, dub, african and south american music. Loads of percussion and complicated riddims, guitars, horns and synhs. Was a very nice project to do. And soon im gonna mix Tommy Tornado’s new album which is reggae, but also ska and jazz.

How can artists link up for collaboration or do you pick the artists yourself ? Artists can link me thru facebook messenger or email. Usually i ask to send a demo 1st. But sometimes i hear something really nice and then i try to contact to see if he or she is up for a collab. But people also can link me for mastering or mixing their projects.

How do you see the role or reggae music in modern day society ? Hmm, funny thing is that each and every year i hear more and more reggae influenced tune on popular radiostations. It seems a lot of big name artists use reggae as a foundation to make commercial hits.

What do you think of platforms such as Reggae Agenda ? Reggae agenda is around for years now and is a great source to see what’s going on in the scene. As far as im concerned Reggae agenda should expand to become the main source for the whole of Europe.